Westwood Bap�st Church

Maundy Thursday

March 24, 2016

7:30 p.m.

“We look for light, but all is darkness;

for brightness, but we walk in deep shadows.”

(Isaiah 59:9b)

THE GATHERING

Prelude Ah, Holy Jesus Bliss

Introit What Wondrous Love is This Tradi�onal

* Call To Worship

Leader: On this night, Jesus called his disciples to gather with him in

the upper room.

People: On this night, Jesus taught his disciples servant lessons, and

as he had done for them, they were to do for others.

Leader: On this night, Jesus took the loaf and cup, shared them with

his disciples in remembrance of him.

People: On this night, Jesus prayed for deliverance, yet affirmed his

calling to do his Father’s will.

Leader: On this night, Jesus was arrested, abused, and subjected to

the taun�ng injus�ce of the righteous.

People: On this night, we gather to receive, remember, reflect, and

repent, for in the shadow of the cross, there is hope.

* Invoca�on Rev. Towner

* Hymn # 272 I Lay My Sins on Jesus (Vs. 1-2)

Prayer of Confession Congrega�on

Gracious God, from the beginning, your hand has been at work,

guiding, helping, disciplining, and redeeming a fallen crea#on. You

established a covenant of promise that you faithfully fulfilled, and yet,

again and again we have forsaken that promise. We are reminded on

this night of the depth of your love through the sacrifice of your Son.

We are unworthy of such love, and yet you offer it freely to all.

Confronted by love, we confess our sin, we cry out for mercy, and ask

for your forgiveness. You have borne the stain of our sin, you have

carried the weakness of our will, you have died in our place. In

sorrow, we repent and wait…we wait for the redemp#on of the cross.

Amen. (Silence)

Words of Assurance Rev. Gray

The L9:; is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in

steadfast love. He will not always accuse, nor will he keep his anger

forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us

according to our iniqui�es. For as the heavens are high above the earth,

so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the

east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgression from us.

(Psalm 103:8-12)

THE WORD

Scripture Lesson Mark 14:12-25 Rev. Gray

Medita�on Making Prepara)ons Dr. Abernathy

THE SUPPER OF OUR LORD

* Hymn # 371 I Come with Joy to Meet My Lord

GREAT PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

Leader: The Lord be with you.

People: And also with you.

Leader: LiG up your hearts.

People: We li- them up to the Lord.

Leader: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

PRAYER OF PREPARATION Congrega�on

Eternal God, we gather this night to reflect and remember. We

gather from the busyness of the day and the many distrac#ons of

our lives to visit once more scenes of betrayal, injus#ce,

abandonment, and salva#on. You invite us to this table to break

the bread and drink the cup as your disciples did on that Thursday

evening before your death. We come, as they came, o-en unaware

of their own betrayal and failure before you. Draw us to this table

with open minds to consider anew the remarkable story of

salva#on. Draw us to this table with broken and contrite hearts

that recognize our own sin and the immeasurable cost of that sin

to you. Draw us to this table with open hands to receive these

symbols of your grace and mercy. Draw us closer to you as we hear

again the words of sacrifice through the cross of Christ. Amen.

The Bread and the Cup

We will receive the supper of our Lord this evening by in)nc)on.

Please come to one of three sta)ons when invited. As you take the

bread, you will hear, “This is the body of Christ, broken for you.” As

you take the cup you will hear, “This is the blood of Christ shed for

you.” Upon receiving these symbols of our salva)on, please return

quietly to your seat.

The Lord’s Prayer

SERVICE OF TENEBRAE

The service of Tenebrae, meaning “darkness” or “shadows,” has

been prac)ced by the church since medieval )mes. Once a service for

the monas)c community, Tenebrae is a prolonged medita)on on

Christ’s suffering. The readings trace the story of Christ’s passion, the

music portrays his suffering, and the power of silence and darkness

suggests the drama of this momentous day. As lights are

ex)nguished, we ponder the depth of Christ’s suffering and death,

captured by the shadows…wai)ng for light to overcome.

* Hymn # 175 “Man of Sorrows,” What a Name

vs. 1-4

THE SHADOW OF ANGUISH

Scripture Lesson Mark 14:32-42 Rev. Gray

The Ex�nguishing of Light/Silence

THE SHADOW OF BETRAYAL

Scripture Lesson Mark 14:43-50, 66-72 Danny and Megan Purkey

The Ex�nguishing of Light/Silence

Musical Medita�on Nocturne Scriabin

Olga Teutler

THE SHADOW OF ACCUSATION

Scripture Lesson Mark 15:1-15 Mark Schiffner

The Ex�nguishing of Light/Silence

THE SHADOW OF MOCKERY

Scripture Lesson Mark 15:16-20 Ginger Beecher

The Ex�nguishing of Light/Silence

Duet A Purple Robe Wallace

Pat Close and Jim Abernathy

THE SHADOW OF HUMILIATION

Scripture Lesson Mark 15:21-32 Bob and Martha Lee Fugate

The Ex�nguishing of Light/Silence

* Hymn # 291 Beneath the Cross of Jesus

THE SHADOW OF DEATH

Scripture Lesson Mark 15:33-39 Rev. Towner

The Ex�nguishing of Light/Silence

In the darkness, the bell tolls 33 )mes,

represen)ng the years of Jesus’ life.

THE SHADOW OF THE TOMB

Scripture Lesson Mark 15:42-47 Dr. Abernathy

The Ex�nguishing of Light/Silence

The Bible is slammed shut, echoing the tomb. The world is

bere: of both the Light and the Word. The congrega)on

may remain in prayer or depart in silence.